Saturday, February 18, 2017

We all complain about how the dream factories of Hollywood only spit out remakes and rehashes of existing properties. We see endless streams of superhero films, and "reimagined" versions of some of our most beloved titles, and we lose all hope. Then along come two really fantastic films that shake us out of this despair and show us that there are still some people out there doing good, original work. People who appreciate that the old ways are sometimes best. We start off with 2016's "The Autopsy of Jane Doe", starring Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch. It is directed by Andre Ovredal, who gave us the amazing "Troll Hunter". This is a small and intimate look into the lives of two men working in a mortuary that are tasked with solving the mysteries behind a woman's body found at a crime scene. It is sensational, and the less you know about it, the better...just go see it! We follow that up with 2015's "Green Room", from director Jeremy Saulnier. It tells the story of a punk band from Washington D.C. that finds themselves on the opposite coast of America, without a dollar, or any gigs, who are offered a shot to perform at a club deep in the woods and frequented by skinheads. Things do not go well. This is such an intense and impactful film, you really have to see it to believe it. Let us know what you thought of the films, and the show, by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or just leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

For this episode of the podcast, we look at two more films from the 70s, but both of these feature special-effects work from people who would go on to redefine what is possible in film effects work. We start off with 1970's Equinox, with effects from Dennis Muren who has more than a few Oscars in his cupboard. It is a very interesting, Lovecraftian tale, about ancient books that unlock doorways to dark realms. It is amazing what they accomplished with no money. We follow that up with 1977's Planet of Dinosaurs, which has some truly spectacular stop-motion work from Jim Aupperle. This is a real throw-back to a simpler type of story, and it is full of groan-worthy moments, but it is still a sweet taste of "the good old days". Let us know what you thought of the show by writing to flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com or just leave a message on our Facebook page.